UPLAND >> Daniel Garcia is waiting to find out the fate of the dog who attacked and killed his 15-year-old golden retriever, Lazer, while out for a walk last month in the Colonies neighborhood.

The owner of the 3-year-old pit bull, who has raised him since puppyhood, is nervously awaiting the decision as well.

Animal control officers are completing their reports on the attack, which will be presented during an upcoming hearing that could determine if the pit bull, Johnny Rango, could be euthanized.

“People used to see me walking the dog, the old man and the dog walking around the neighborhood,” Garcia, 64, said about Lazer. “The kids knew him. Everyone loved him. He was the best dog I ever owned, and I miss him.”

Upland City Manager Stephen Dunn said he is waiting to receive the reports before he sets an official hearing date but expects it to occur within the next three weeks.

The city must then give the parties involved a 10-day notice.

Johnny Rango’s owner, Alicia Fagundes, and her 12-year-old son have been visiting their pet daily in the Upland Animal Shelter where he is being held.

“I love my dog. I don’t want him killed,” she said. “He’s a loving dog. He doesn’t deserve to die over this. By all means, if it were a person or a child I would put him down myself.”

Garcia was walking Lazer about 8:15 p.m. Aug. 25 in his neighborhood in the Colonies, when he saw Johnny Rango approaching.

“I tried to come between my dog and the other dog,” he said. “The dog looked like a pit bull dog, and he latched on to my dog’s right shoulder. (Lazer) is an elderly dog, so he tried to defend himself, but he was limited in his strength. At that point, I grabbed the dog by the neck and started striking the dog with my left fist.”

Advertisement

It took Garcia and three neighbors to pulls the dogs apart.

Neighbors took Garcia and Lazer to hospital, where the dog was given a 50/50 chance to live. But due to his age and the extent of the wound, Lazer died early the next day, Garcia said.

Garcia asked Fagundes to pay for Lazer’s medical bills and an additional $2,000 for pain and suffering.

They signed a settlement agreement stating that Garcia will not seek legal action against Fagundes.

Since becoming city manager in 2011, Dunn has held three hearings dealing with dog attacks, but this one is different.

Because Johnny Rango was in a fight with another dog in March 2012, there could be a recommendation to now define him as vicious and euthanize him, according to the city’s Municipal Code.

As a result of the first altercation, Fagundes was required to kennel Johnny Rango while she was not home and to post signs.

Fagundes said in the most recent attack, she believes a neighbor let Johnny Rango out of his outdoor kennel while she was at work.

“There was no evidence of him getting out and hopping the fence or anything left open,” she said. “I know he was let out.”

The upcoming hearing will likely be treated as a public meeting, Dunn said.

Anyone who comes will be allowed to speak during public comment, including the owners of the dogs.

After the public comments, Dunn said he will look over recommendations from animal control based on their reports and discuss those recommendations with the involved parties.

If there is a recommendation to euthanize Johnny Rango, Fagundes can appeal, Dunn said.

Fagundes said her dog has never been aggressive toward people — including her children — and gets along well with her other 3½-pound dog Bella.

“People think because they’re pit bulls, that they’re bad. They’re not. It’s not the case,” Fagundes said. “My dog is not vicious. He’s not rampant. He doesn’t bite human beings. He’s like a big baby at the house.”

Garcia said he has wrestled with the idea of putting down the other dog in this situation,

Originally, he said he did not want Johnny Rango to die but rather be rehabilitated. But he has since changed his mind.

“When I do go to the hearing, I plan to speak for the euthanasia of the dog,” he said. “I’m very sorry for (Fagundes’) loss, but I’m just trying to get over everything. I’m trying to get past this and not hold a grudge against her.”